HumiBlog.com

Looking at a San Cristobal de la Habana, La Fuerza, it strikes as a superbly constructed cigar. For people like me, who have often mourned the trend away from genuine quality in favor of sheer production out of Cuba, the look and feel of this robusto extra is not only a welcome surprise but perhaps also a sign that a change is coming… for the good.

I can barely get over how good the wrapper is on these– just oily enough, with the right thickness and consistency–giving the whole cigar a very solid feel and combustion. I find the aromas slightly sweet, reminiscent of light cloves or ginger, with an underlying note of pepper, though not necessarily spicy; and certainly not “hot.”

Lighting up is a surprise; a good one. I suppose I’m just not used to this type deep creamy texture and taste from the classic Habanos. You can tell that the arrival of this puro is a deliberate attempt out of Havana to add yet another “dimension” to the perception of what is classically Cuban.

The cigar is overall on the milder side of medium bodied, the smoke, rich and creamy throughout, and the progression, a subtle one. Light pepper and creamy musk evolve slightly well into the first third to take on some woody and mildly leathery notes. It will intensify well into the last third to take on a much more pronounced leathery profile with dominant woody notes right through to the end.

The finish is surprisingly light, brief and pleasant. I would recommend this cigar to any novice looking for a milder Cuban cigar or to anyone who enjoys a lighter smoke in the morning or early afternoon. It’s certainly not a powerhouse, and can come across as too linear for those of us who may be used to a more complex progression or earthier, darker profile. Yet, overall, I would say that I enjoy the San Cristobal de la Habana, La Fuerza, when the mood strikes.